Each month Cacophony brings you a major work to make you happy – there aren’t many symphonies more cheery and life-affirming than the 8thsymphony by Dvorak, a man who great tunes poured out from. [4 parts]  

CACOPHONY

Smiling music: Dvorak Symphony No.8 [1/4]

Smiling music: Dvorak Symphony No.8 [2/4]

Each month Cacophony brings you a major work to make you happy – there aren’t many symphonies more cheery and life-affirming than the 8thsymphony by Dvorak, a man who great tunes poured out from. [4 parts]

Smiling music: Dvorak Symphony No.8 [3/4]

Smiling music: Dvorak Symphony No.8 [4/4]

Five pieces (six actually) inspired and influenced by nature and the East.  When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities and a new direction in music.  Amazing grown-up music for children. Ravel’s Mother Goose brings us gongs and pagodas and the view of the Fairy Garden blows your heart wide open.

Gardens of Discovery 5 - Ravel: Mother Goose

Five pieces (six actually) inspired and influenced by nature and the East. When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities and a new direction in music.  Messiaen's Jardín du sommeil d'amour, (Garden of love's sleep) is otherworldly, dreamy and intoxicating as a whole new world emerges from a pair of entwined sleeping lovers.

Gardens of Discovery 4 - Messiaen: Garden of love's sleep

Five pieces (six actually) inspired and influenced by nature and the East. When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities and a new direction in music. Japanese composer Toro Takemitsu was inspired by the French composers who were inspired by Eastern culture. Spirit Garden is a meditation on the sacred spaces that are Japanese gardens.  

Gardens of Discovery 3 - Takemitsu: Spirit Garden

Five pieces (six actually) inspired and influenced by nature and the East. When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities and a new direction in music.  Languorous, sensual, dreamy, Debussy’s Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faun bends and stretches the 19thcentury western sound world.

Gardens of Discovery 2 - Debussy: Prelude

Five pieces (six actually) inspired and influenced by nature and the East. When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities and a new direction in music.  Debussy led the way and his piano pieces Pagodas and Gardens in the rain are fabulous pieces of aural picture painting.

Gardens of Discovery 1 - Debussy: Pagodas

Dmitri Shostakovich tries to speak the truth about the grim reality of life in 1930s Russia, whilst at the same time giving the authorities the upbeat, cheery music they wanted.  An impossible task? [3 parts]

Walking the tight-rope – Shostakovich Symphony No.6 [1/3]

Walking the tight-rope – Shostakovich Symphony No.6 [2/3]

Walking the tight-rope – Shostakovich Symphony No.6 [3/3]

Schubert wrote some great music that hardly any of us know. In his penultimate Piano Sonata we eavesdrop on his search for answers and acceptance. [4 Parts]

Epic and intimate piano: Schubert Sonata No.20 [1/4]

Epic and intimate piano: Schubert Sonata No.20 [2/4]

Epic and intimate piano: Schubert Sonata No.20 [3/4]

Great music you may not know but I think you’ll love: music about life, music that enhances our lives… great music to clear our minds and open our hearts.

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